Flying from Beijing to Chicago: what you need to know
There are a couple of main airports to choose from in Beijing. Explore your options departing from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Daxing International Airport (PKX) when organising your flight from Beijing to Chicago.
Touch down in Chicago at O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
Jump on a direct Beijing to Chicago flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 14 hours.
Chicago is 13 hours behind Beijing and observes the UTC-5 timezone.
The busiest route for flights from Beijing to Chicago is from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Choose from three services every week between these two airports. If you want to be on your way as soon as possible, the earliest flight from PEK to ORD is the 11:15 United Airlines option. If you prefer to travel later, the latest available service is at 11:15 with United Airlines.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to catch your Beijing to Chicago flight.
During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport well in advance. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights when you fly during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Beijing to Chicago
Get cheap Beijing to Chicago flights by booking three months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for picking up a bargain.
Organise your trip for June. That's the best month for landing an awesome deal on plane tickets from Beijing to Chicago. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
You don't need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you when there's a better deal on cheap flights from Beijing to Chicago.
Save money on your Beijing to Chicago flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
You can catch a direct flight from Beijing to Chicago taking off from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Begin your trip at PEK and land at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
Lock in your Beijing to Chicago plane tickets with United Airlines. This airline is a popular choice for direct flights from PEK.
We make it a cinch to book a Beijing to Chicago flight with a stopover. To see the options departing from Beijing Capital International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Popular stopovers include:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
PEK is around 26 kilometres from central Beijing. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take 40 minutes or so to arrive, depending on traffic conditions.
Catching an early flight from Beijing to Chicago? Avoid rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near Beijing Capital International Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Beijing Capital International Airport, data shows 79.67% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.
PEK is located at Capital Airport Rd.
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Visit friends or family or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your Beijing to Chicago flight, browse these options when taking off from Daxing International Airport:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Haneda Airport (HND)
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
You can get to PKX from central Beijing in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The ride on public transport takes roughly 30 minutes to travel the 48 kilometres or so.
You're off on holiday, so why not book an extra night away from home? Think about staying at one of these accommodation options near Daxing International Airport the day before your flight from Beijing to Chicago:
Daxing International Airport has a reputation for reliability and timeliness. 89% of flights departing here make it to their final destination as planned.
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometres away.
Getting to the centre on public transport will take you around 55 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel close to ORD if you have a late flight from Beijing to Chicago. Select one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Explore without limits with an O'Hare International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Dollar or Budget and see more of Chicago and beyond.
To lock in the lowest price, book your ride from O'Hare International Airport about four weeks ahead of your Beijing to Chicago flight.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
After your flight from Beijing to Chicago has hit the tarmac, you can get to the city centre in about 20 minutes by car. Central Chicago is roughly 14 kilometres from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
Public transport will get you there in approximately 45 minutes.
After your flight from Beijing to Chicago, kick back at a hotel near MDW. These are some comfortable options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
The fastest way to reach your destination is with a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Dollar, Hertz or Budget and be on your way in a flash.
Avoid paying more than you need to. Booking your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at MDW will save you money.
Chicago Midway International Airport can be found at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is about 129 kilometres from central Chicago. It takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the city centre by cab or ride-share once you've stepped off your flight from Beijing to Chicago.
The journey will take roughly 4 hours 15 minutes when travelling on public transport.
Stay in control of the next leg of your journey by picking up a Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car. Budget, Alamo and National are reliable rental providers.
If you're hoping for a particular kind of vehicle, booking early increases your chances of snagging what you want. Book your ride from RFD a couple of weeks ahead of your flight from Beijing to Chicago.
Chicago Rockford International Airport's address is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
August is the busiest month for flights from Beijing to Chicago. To travel when it's less crowded, go to Chicago in January.
Before locking in your Beijing to Chicago tickets, consider the kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Chicago, with temperatures ranging from 15ºC to 29ºC.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Beijing to Chicago in January when temperatures average between -12ºC and 3ºC.
More about Chicago
After booking your flight from Beijing to Chicago, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these options your base for exploring Chicago:
Millennium Park and Art Institute of Chicago are just the start of the top attractions to add to your Chicago travel itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.
Explore more of United States
Chicago has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States just waiting to be explored. Around 451 kilometres south-east of Chicago, a trip to Columbus will keep your itinerary packed. Check out popular attractions like Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio Statehouse and German Village.
If there's time to check out another major stop in United States, head for Indianapolis, about 257 kilometres south-east of Chicago. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo are the start of reasons to visit.